Furniture and room partition components

ABSTRACT

Furniture and room components which can readily be assembled in various combinations to form any of a wide variety of furniture units or room partition units, with the units easily disassembled when desired. The components include vertical support members, vertical and horizontal edge members, corner members and panel members. The panel members can include sliding doors, vertically hinged doors and horizontally hinged doors.

ilnite States Patent Torres-Pena FURNITURE AND ROOM PARTITION COMPONENTS[76] Inventor: Enrique Torres-Pena, Apartado Aereo 62-31, Bogota,Colombia 22 Filed: Sept. 6, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 286,819

[52] US. Cl 312/257 SK, 52/475, 52/656, 108/111, 211/182, 312/107,312/111,

[51] Int. Cl. E04b 5/52, F16b 3/00 [58] Field of Search 211/148, 182;312/107, 312/108,111, 140,198, 257 SK, 263, 265;

287/54 A, 54 B, 54 C; 52/27, 475, 239, 656,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,895 12/1936 Mack287/54 A 3,255,721 6/1966 Peterschmidt 211/182 3,360,320 12/1967 Lust312/265 X 3,425,726 2/1969 Muller 287/54 A X [111 3,835,354 [451 Sept.10, 1974 3,494,686 2/1970 Diack 312/257 R 3,513,606 5/1970 Jones 52/273,525,560 8/1970 Gasner et al 312/257 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,107,518 3/1968 Great Britain 287/54 A 60,309 ll/l954 France 312/257 SKPrimary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Morton,Bernard, Brown, Roberts & Sutherland [57] ABSTRACT Furniture and roomcomponents which can readily be assembled in various combinations toform any of a wide variety of furniture units or room partition units,with the units easily disassembled when desired. The components includevertical support members, vertical and horizontal edge members, cornermembers and panel members. The panel members can include sliding doors,vertically hinged doors and horizontally hinged doors.

9 Claims, 39 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBSEP 1 mm SHEU 10$ 8 PAIENIEDsEP 101914 sum 2 or 3 N T n s PAIENTEB SEN man 3.aas.3s4

PATENTEB SEP 1 0 I974 sum 5 or a \\& Mu Um.

Ha" W d k v (I88 PAIENTEB s5? 1 01914 SHEET I [If 8 FURNITURE AND ROOMPARTITION COMPONENTS The present invention pertains to furniture androom partition construction. More particularly, the present inventionpertains to components which can be readily assembled to form a widevariety of furniture units or room partition units with the unitsreadily disassembled when desired.

The majority of furniture units available are preassembled in a fixedconfiguration. This to a degree limits their adaptability to differentlocations. Often, a person has a particular location in which he desiresto have a particular type of furniture unit, only to find that there areno furniture units of the desired type available which would fit thelocation or that only a very limited number of satisfactory furnitureunits are available with little selection of style. It also frequentlyoccurs that a furniture unit is obtained for a particular location in apersons home, but that subsequently the person moves to a different homehaving no location suitable for the particular furniture unit.Consequently, in such situations it is necessary for the person todispose of the furniture unit and obtain a new one suitable for the newlocation. This difficulty can occur even when the person has not movedto a new home, for example, should he choose to rearrange the furniturein his home. Many furniture units having the same function havedifferent designs to provide a variety of sizes and styles. If thefurniture units are provided as finished items, this varietynecessitates a laborious and costly manufacturing process. Furniturecomponents have been provided from which a plurality of furniture itemscan be assembled and disassembled as desired. These furniturecomponents, however, have had little strength, and so the resultingfurniture items have been unable to support more than a nominal load.

Likewise, room partitions are frequently desired to divide or rearrangethe layout of a room. Often it is desired to have such partitionsrelatively readily movable so that the room partitioning or layout canbe rearranged rapidly and with only small effort.

The present invention is an arrangement of components adapted for readyassembly in a variety of combinations to provide a variety of furnitureunits and a variety of room partition units. The units can be readilydisassembled and reassembled to permit alteration of the designs and topermit easy moving of the units from one location to another. Since thewide variety of units are assembled from a relatively limited number offixed components, the components can be produced in large quantity, thusreducing the manufacturing cost. In accordance with the presentinvention, units are assembled from a plurality of vertical supportmembers, a plurality of vertical and horizontal edge members, aplurality of corner members, and, if desired, hinged members and panelmembers. The vertical support members are adapted to support aconsiderable weight so that the resulting units are capable ofsupporting a reasonable load such as a quantity of books or dishes. Thevertical and horizontal edge members can be provided in a variety oftypes to provide units with a vari ety of styles.

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are moreapparent in the following detailed description and claims, particularlywhen considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in FIGS.3A and 3B are exploded views of other corner assemblies and illustrateareas A and B of FIG. 3, respectively;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively along line 4--4 andalong line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate alternative forms of edge members suitablefor use in units in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of another type of corner assembly suitablefor use in units in accordance with the present invention andillustrates area 9 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are respectively an exploded view and an assembledview of a first type of hinge member suitable for use in units inaccordance with the present invention and illustrate area 10 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C depict another type of hinge member suitable foruse in units in accordance with the present invention and illustratearea 11 of FIG.

FIGS. l2, l3 and 14 illustrate an alternative form of corner assemblysuitable for use in units in accordance with the present invention, withFIG. 13 taken along line l313 of FIG. 12, and with FIG. 14 taken alongline 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIGS. l5, l6, l7 and 18 illustrate alternative forms of vertical edgemembers suitable for incorporation into units in accordance with thepresent invention, with FIG. 18 taken along line l818 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an alternative form of horizontal edgemembers;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of area 20 on FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a broken, partially sectional side elevational view of aportion of a unit including horizontal edge members of FIG. 19;

FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C illustrate different types of horizontal edgemembers in accordance with FIG. 19;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of assembling acontinuous horizontal surface of indefinite length using the horizontaledge members of FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C, with the three portions of FIG.24 being views taken respectively along lines 24A.24A, 24B-24B and24C24C on FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C, respectively;

FIG. 25 illustrates a variation of the horizontal edge member of FIG.19;

FIG. 26 illustrates a slightly modified form of horizontal edge memberFIG. 27 illustrates an alternative form of horizontal support memberincorporated into a unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 28A depicts a further alternative form of horizontal supportmember, and FIG. 28B illustrates a unit made therefrom;

FIG. 29 illustrates yet another form of horizontal support member; and

FIG. 30 depicts a connector in accordance'with the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cabinet 30 which is representative of furnitureunits that can be assembled from components in accordance with thepresent invention. Cabinet 30 includes several sections which furtherillustrate the different types of furniture which can be assembled fromcomponents in accordance'with the present invention. Section 31comprises a cabinet section having vertically hinged door panels 32.Cabinet section 33 comprises upper and lower horizontal panels 34suitable for holding books, records, dishes, etc. Cabinet sections 35are sections having horizontal sliding door panels 36. Section 37comprises a cabinet having a horizontal hinged door panel 38. Theseveral cabinet sections include vertical edge members 39, horizontaledge members 40, corner assemblies 42, vertical side panels 44 andhorizontal panels 46.

FIG. 2A is an exploded figure of a corner assembly 42 which is made upof first and second connector portions 50, each having a head portion 52and a shank portion 54. A hole 56 passes through each head portion 52.As seen in FIG. 2A, each horizontal edge member 40 is a hollow tubehaving a substantially square cross section of a size to fit snugglyover the shank portion 54 of a connector portion 50. The head portion 52of each connector portion 50 has a thickness slightly greater thanone-half the thickness of the shank portion 54 so that when the two headportions 52 are placed in juxtaposition, with the holes 56 aligned, andhorizontal edge members 40 are in place over the shank portions 54, theresulting corner assembly has a substantially uniform thickness, as seenin FIG. 28. Preferably, also one or more tapped openings 58 are providedin each shank portion 54 and a like number of openings 60 are providedin horizontal edge members 40 so that when the horizontal edge membersare positioned over shank portions 54, bolts 62 can be inserted throughopenings 60 into tapped openings 58 to secure the horizontal edgemembers in place. Bolt 64 is provided to pass through openings 56 inhead portions 52 and to mate with internally threaded pipe or verticalsupport member 66. Vertical edge member 39 fits over vertical supportmember 66 to provide a finished appearance. In the illustrative exampledepicted in FIGS. 1 and 28, vertical edge member 39 has a substantiallysquare cross section to match horizontal edge member 40. If desired, ofcourse, edge members 39 and 40 could have circular or other crosssections. FIG. 28 thus shows the assembled comer member 32.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating assembly of a vertical supportmember and horizontal and vertical edge members and is illustrative ofthat seen along line 33 on FIG. 1. On the upper portion of the verticalsupport a comer assembly 42 is provided including connector portions 50and vertical support member 66 which are secured together by means ofbolt 64. Vertical edge member 39 is positioned over vertical supportmember 66 to provide a finished appearance. A through bolt ordouble-ended bolt 68 is threaded into the lower end of vertical supportmember 66. FIG. 3A is an exploded view showing the components of theupper intermediate junction at area A of FIG. 3. A connector portion 50is provided to support a horizontal edge member 40. Connector portion 50mates with a double-ended connector portion 70 which includes a headportion 72 and two shank portions 74 extending in opposite directionsfrom head portion 72. Thus, connector portion 50 and connector portion70 mate to form a T joint. A horizontal edge member 40 is provided foreach shank portion of the joint.

The horizontal edge members 40 include support flanges for the verticaland horizontal panels 44 and 46 and for the sliding door panels 36.Thus, as seen in FIG. 3A, horizontal edge member 40a is provided with apair of upwardly extending flanges 86 to form a single channel whichsupports vertical side panel 44 of cabinet section 35, a pair ofdownwardly extending flanges 88 which form a single channel to supportvertical side panel 44 of cabinet section 31 and a flange 90 extendingfrom each side of horizontal edge member 40a to support the horizontalpanels 46 of cabinet sections 31 and 33. Similarly, horizontal edgemember 40b includes three upwardly extending flanges 92 which form twochannels to support sliding door panels 36 of cabinet section 35.Horizontal edge members 40b and 400 each include a flange 94 extendingfrom one side to support horizontal panels 46 of cabinet sections 31 and33. The horizontal edge members 40 can be provided with a variety ofcombinations of flanges to permit assembly of any combination ofcomponents.

Double ended bolt 68 has one of its threaded ends threaded into thelower end of the upper vertical support member 66. Bolt 68 passesthrough opening 56 in head portion 52 and through opening 76 in headportion 72 and has its second end threaded into lower vertical supportmember 66. That vertical support member is likewise within a verticaledge member 39. FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the components of thelower intermediate junction at area B of FIG. 3. As seen in FIGS. 3 and3B, a second double-ended bolt 68 is threaded into the bottom end of thelower vertical support member 66 and passes through connector portions50 and 70 of a lower T joint and into a foot or lower support member 78.Preferably, foot 78 includes a rigid upper portion 80 having aninternally threaded opening 82 to receive bolt 68 and a somewhatresilient lower portion 84 to rest on the floor or other supportingsurface.

FIG. 4 illustrates horizontal edge member 40a supporting vertical sidepanels 44 and horizontal panels 46 and 96 of cabinet sections 31, 33 and35. FIG. 5 illustrates another form of horizontal edge member 40supporting sliding door panels 36, vertically hinged door 32 and lowershelf panel 96 within cabinet section 35. Since shelf panel 96 isintended to support items within cabinet section 35, it preferably has agreater thickness than does horizontal panel 36. Accordingly, flanges 98which support shelf panel 96 are positioned to mate with the thickershelf panel.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative form of horizontal edge member 100 inwhich channels 102 are formed as recesses in the surfaces of the edgemember to support vertical panels, and in which a flange 104 is formedintegrally with the side of the horizontal edge member to support ahorizontal panel. The channels 102 extend into tube 100 and a pluralityof flanges 106 are provided within tube 100 to define a zone 108 whichwill accept the shank 54 or 74 of a corner connector portion 50 or 70.

FIG. 7 depicts another alternative form of horizontal edge member 110 inwhich each surface incorporates a V groove 112 adapted to receive aninsert or tongue. FIG. 8 illustrates several types of inserts for usewith horizontal edge member 110. Thus, insert 116 provides doublechannels to accommodate sliding door panels. Insert 118 provides asingle channel to support a vertical side panel. Insert 120 provides aflange to support a horizontal panel and insert 122 provides a flatsurface to be flush with the outer surface of edge member 110. Theinserts depicted in FIG. 8 are only illustrative of the several typeswhich might be provided for use with horizontal edge member 110, andutilizing such inserts a single design of horizontal edge member can beutilized to provide a wide variety of capabilities.

FIG. 9 illustrates the forming of a corner by means of two double-endedcorner members 70, a double-ended bolt 68 and two internally threadedvertical support members 66. Such a corner might be provided at thejunction of cabinet units 31, 33, 35, and 37, at area 9 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. A and 10B illustrate components for forming a vertical hinge suchas provided for door panels 32. An insert 124 is provided with anopening 126 to fit about vertical support member 66. Finger 128 extendsfrom one horizontal surface'of insert 124 and fits in a corner betweenvertical edge member 39 and vertical support member 66 to preventrotation of insert 124. Hinge pin 130 extends from insert 124 to fitwithin recess 132 in vertically hinged door panel 32.

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C illustrate the hinges for the horizontally hingeddoor panel 38. The vertical edge member 39 associated with horizontallyhinged door panel 38 includes two flanges 134 to provide a channelwithin which spacer block 136 is positioned. Hinge pin 138 extends fromdoor 38 into that same channel. Spacer block 136 has a length sufficientto prevent door panel 38 from binding as it is opened.

In place of the hinge assemblies of FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, 11B and 11C,the hinge disclosed in copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 237,146,filed Mar. 22, I972, could be utilized.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 illustrate an alternative form of corner assembly140. Corner assembly block 140 has a V groove 142 in each of its faces.In addition, a hole 144 is provided through corner assembly block 140 ofa size to permit passage therethrough of a bolt 64 or a bolt 68. Supportmember 146 includes tongue- 148 to mate with a groove 142. An opening150 extends into support member 146 from end 152 opposite tongue 148. Athreaded opening 154 passes through tongue 148 to opening 150. Whencorner support member 146 is in place in corner assembly block 140, bolt156 is threaded through opening 154 to engage recess 158 on the interiorsurface of V groove 142, thus securely fastening support member 146 tocorner assembly block 140. Horizontal edge member 40 fits over supportmember 146. If no corner support member 146 is to be attached to a sideof corner assembly block 140, an insert 122 can be utilized to provide afinished appearance. Support member 146 could have a cross section otherthan the illustrated square cross section, if desired.

FIGS. l5, l6, l7 and 18 depict alternative forms of vertical edgemembers illustrative of those which can be utilized to provide variousstyles in accordance with the present invention. Vertical edge member160 of FIG. 15 is a smooth, tapered, contemporary design. Vertical edgemember 162 of FIG. 16 is a more ornate design. Vertical edge member 164,shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, includes vertical grooves. Each vertical edgemember 160, 162 and 164 has a central opening 166 therethrough forpassage of a vertical support member 66. Vertical edge members 160, 162,and 164 might be made of wood. It is thus seen that by use of suchvertical edge members, a variety of styles of furniture or of roompartitions can be provided in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 19 depicts an alternative form of horizontal edge member 168, whichfor example can likewise be manufactured of wood. Horizontal edge member168 is essentially a rectangular frame having grooves in its horizontalsurfaces. As seen in FIGS. 20 and 21, a groove 170 is provided along oneside of a horizontal surface of edge member 168 to receive a verticalpanel, and a pair of grooves 172 are provided along a second side ofmember 168 tp receive sliding door panels. The horizontal edge members168 can be provided with a variety of combinations of grooves 170 and172 adjancent the various edges of the upper and lower horizontalsurfaces to accommodate a variety of combinations of panels, as desired.A hole 174 passes through each corner of member 168 to permit passage ofbolts 64 or 68, as depicted in FIG. 22. In the upper surface of member168 a recess 176 is provided to receive a horizontal panel 46, as seenin FIG. 21. The horizontal edge member 168 can be installed in units toany desired height as illustrated in FIG. 22.

FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C show three forms of a slightly varied horizontaledge member. Horizontal edge member 178 in FIG. 23A has a recess 180along one edge of its lower surface. Horizontal edge member 182, shownin FIG. 23B, has a recess 184 along one edge of its upper surface and arecess 186 along the opposite edge of its lower surface. Horizontal edgemember 188 of FIG. 23C has a recess 190 along one edge of its uppersurface. As seen in FIG. 24, the recesses 180, 184, 186 and 190 permitjoining of these horizontal edge members to provide surfaces of anydesired horizontal dimension. FIG. 25 illustrates the use of a singletype of horizontal edge member 182, with recesses 184 and 186, togetherwith blocks 192 which are adapted to fit into the recesses 184 and 186,permitting conversion of the horizontal edge member 182 into any one ofthe other styles shown as horizontal edge members 168, 178 or 188. Asillustrated in FIG. 26, horizontal edge members of this type can also beprovided with designs along the vertical edges to provide additionalstyles. If desired, only the one type of horizontal edge member 182 needbe provided and having two grooves such as groove 172. In such instance,blocks 192 can be used as needed, and door panels can be inserted in thetwo grooves 172 or vertical side panels can be inserted in the outergroove 172, hiding the inner groove. By this means, production can besimplified since only one type of horizontal edge member need beproduced. In addition, if desired the horizontal edge members can bemade as full shelves, with or without recesses 180, 184, 186 and 190,and omitting the central opening and recess 176.

FIG. 27 illustrates a horizontal edge member 196 having notches 198 onopposite faces at the opposite ends thereof to permit mating of twomembers 196, either at right angles as depicted in FIG. 27 or aligned,and having threaded holes 200 therethrough. Bolts 64 and 68 and verticalsupport members 66 can be utilized with members 196 to form furniture orroom units. If desired, each vertical support member 66 can have a hole67 passing therethrough for insertion of a pin or bar to aid intightening the vertical support member and bolt 64 or 68. This, ofcourse, can likewise be done with vertical support members 66 of FIGS. 2and 3. For room units, a pin 202 can be inserted into hole 200 from theupper side and a bolt 204 threaded into hole 200 from the lower side.Then with the lowermost vertical support member 66 resting on the floor,pin 202 contacts the ceiling, and as bolt 204 is threaded into hole 200,it moves pin 202 out to bear against the ceiling, thus stably supportingthe room unit between the floor and ceiling.

If a horizontal shelf is desired intermediate the ends of verticalsupport members 66, a ring 206 is placed over each vertical supportmember and is secured at the desired location by means such as a setscrew 208. Horizontal shelf frame 210 is then supported on rings 206.Frame 210 could be a horizontal support member 168 as in FIG. 19 or itcould be formed as a combination of members 196.

FIG. 28A depicts a horizontal edge member 212 having a notch 214 in onesurface at each end and one or more notches 216 in the opposite surfaceintermediate the ends. As illustrated in FIG. 28B, a plurality ofmembers 212 can be combined, with bolts 64 and vertical support members66 to form furniture or room units. If desired, some of the bolts 64 andvertical support members 66, for example those in the end notches 214,could be replaced by pins 202 and bolts 204 to permit installation ofthe unit of FIG. 288 between a floor and a ceiling.

FIG. 29 depicts another form of horizontal edge member 218 having asubstantially cross-shaped cross section including a central portion 220and four outer portions 222, one extending in each direction fromcentral portion 220. Each horizontal surface has a V groove 224 therein.Likewise, the outer vertical surfaces of outer portions 222 have Vgrooves 224 therein. V grooves 224 support horizontal and verticalpanels 226 which can include tongue portions to mate with V grooves 224,if desired. In addition, if desired, a vertical panel 228 can beprovided with a tongue 230 on one side thereof to support such panel 228on horizontal support member 218. Preferably, hole 232 is providedthrough horizontal edge member 218 for passage of a bolt 64 or 66 topermit attachment to a vertical support member 66.

FIG. 30 illustrates a substantially cross-shaped connector 234 having aplurality of holes 236 in each arm of the cross to accommodate bolts 64or 68 which fasten support members thereto to permit extension of a unitincorporating such connector.

It is thus seen that in accordance with the present invention, furnitureunits can be assembled in a variety of styles from a relatively limitedquantity of components. Although the present invention has beendescribed with reference to preferred embodiments, numerousmodifications and rearrangements could be made and still the resultwould be within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Components capable of assembly into furniture and units comprising: I

vertical support members;

vertical edge members, each having a longitudinal opening therethroughfor passage of a vertical support member, and at least some of saidvertical edge members including first panel support means for supportinga vertically disposed panel;

a plurality of rectangular horizontal frame members, each having anopening at each corner thereof for passage therethrough of a verticalsupport memher, having at least one groove therein to form a secondpanel support means for supporting a vertically disposed panel, andhaving a recess in a horizontal surface thereof to form a third panelsupport means for supporting a horizontally disposed panel;

a plurality of bolts adapted to pass through said rectangular framemembers corner openings and to attach to said vertical support membersto permit assembly of a corner unit; and

panel members engageable in said first, second, and third panel supportmeans to provide furniture and room units.

2. Components as claimed in claim 1 in which one surface of at leastsome of said rectangular frame members has a recess along one edgethereof.

3. Components as claimed in claim 2 in which, at least some of saidrectangular frame members have a recess along two opposite edgesthereof.

4. Components as claimed in claim 1 in which, at least some of saidrectangular frame members have a recess along two opposite edgesthereof.

5. Components as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a plurality ofelongated block members adapted to mate with said rectangular framemembers in the edge recesses thereof.

6. Components as claimed in claim 1 in which at least some of saidrectangular frame members have a recess along at least one side thereofadapted to mate with a recess along one side of another rectangularframe member to form a horizontal surface of any desired length.

7. Components capable of assembly into furniture and room unitscomprising:

vertical support members; vertical edge members, each having alongitudinal opening therethrough for passage of a vertical supportmember, and at least some of said vertical edge members including firstpanel support means for supporting a vertically disposed panel;horizontal edge members, at least some of said horizontal edge membershavingnotches on opposite faces of the ends thereof and at least some ofsaid horizontal edge members have threaded openings therethroughintermediate the notches; corner assembly means adapted for attachmentto said horizontal edge members and said vertical support members topermit assembly of a unit comer;

panel members engageable in said first, second, and third panel supportmeans to provide furniture and room units;

a plurality of bolts adapted to mate with said threaded openings; and

a plurality of pins adapted for insertion into said threaded openingsand cooperating with said bolts and said vertical support members,whereby with a pin inserted into a threaded opening upper end to engagea ceiling surface and with said vertical support members engaging afloor surface, as a bolt is threadedly engaged with the threaded openinglower end, the cooperating pin is moved out from the threaded openingupper end to secure a unit made from said components as a dividerbetween the ceiling surface and the floor surface.

8. Components as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a plurality ofring members adapted for sliding attachment to said vertical supportmembers, and screw means for securing said ring members at any desiredpoint on said vertical support members to support a horizontal memberthereon.

9. Components capable of assembly into furniture and room unitscomprising:

vertical support members; vertical edge members, each having alongitudinal opening therethrough for passage of a vertical supportmember, and at least some of said vertical panel members engageable insaid first, second, and thrid panel support means to provide furnitureand room units;

ring members adapted for sliding attachment to said vertical supportmembers; and

screw means for securing said ring members at any desired point on saidvertical support members to support a horizontal member thereon.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,835,35 Dated September 10, 197A Inventor (S) ENRI QUE TORRES-PENA Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

IN THE CLAIMS:

Column 8, claim 1, line 2, after "and" insert --room-.

Signed and sea led this 2 th day of April 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

. C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. f-IASON Commissioner of Patents ArrestingOfficer and Trademarks P0405) (10459) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 i ".5.GOVERNMENT PIINTlNG OFFICE II! 0-366-B3l

1. Components capable of assembly into furniture and units comprising:vertical support members; vertical edge members, each having alongitudinal opening therethrough for passage of a vertical supportmember, and at least some of said vertical edge members including firstpanel support means for supporting a vertically disposed panel; aplurality of rectangular horizontal frame members, each having anopening at each corner thereof for passage therethrough of a verticalsupport member, having at least one groove therein to form a secondpanel support means for supporting a vertically disposed panel, andhaving a recess in a horizontal surface thereof to form a third panelsupport means for supporting a horizontally disposed panel; a pluralityof bolts adapted to pass through said rectangular frame members corneropenings and to attach to said vertical support members to permitassembly of a corner unit; and panel members engageable in said first,second, and third panel support means to provide furniture and roomunits.
 2. Components as claimed in claim 1 in which one surface of atleast some of said rectangular frame members has a recess along one edgethereof.
 3. Components as claimed in claim 2 in which, at least some ofsaid rectangular frame members have a recess along two opposite edgesthereof.
 4. Components as claimed in claim 1 in which, at least some ofsaid rectangular frame members have a recess along two opposite edgesthereof.
 5. Components as claimed in claim 4 further comprising aplurality of elongated block members adapted to mate with saidrectangular frame members in the edge recesses thereof.
 6. Components asclaimed in claim 1 in which at least some of said rectangular framemembers have a recess along at least one side thereof adapted to matewith a recess along one side of another rectangular frame member to forma horizontal surface of any desired length.
 7. Components capable ofassembly into furniture and room units comprising: vertical supportmembers; vertical edge members, each having a longitudinal openingtherethrough for passage of a vertical support member, and at least someof said vertical edge members including first panel support means forsupporting a vertically disposed panel; horizontal edge members, atleast some of said horizontal edge members having notches on oppositefaces of the ends thereof and at least some of said horizontal edgemembers have threaded openings therethrough intermediate the notches;corner assembly means adapted for attachment to said horizontal edgemembers and said vertical support members to permit assembly of a unitcorner; panel members engageable in said first, second, and third panelsupport means to provide furniture and room units; a plurality of boltsadapted to mate with said threaded openings; and a plurality of pinsadapted for insertion into said threaded openings and cooperating withsaid bolts and said vertical support members, whereby with a piniNserted into a threaded opening upper end to engage a ceiling surfaceand with said vertical support members engaging a floor surface, as abolt is threadedly engaged with the threaded opening lower end, thecooperating pin is moved out from the threaded opening upper end tosecure a unit made from said components as a divider between the ceilingsurface and the floor surface.
 8. Components as claimed in claim 7further comprising a plurality of ring members adapted for slidingattachment to said vertical support members, and screw means forsecuring said ring members at any desired point on said vertical supportmembers to support a horizontal member thereon.
 9. Components capable ofassembly into furniture and room units comprising: vertical supportmembers; vertical edge members, each having a longitudinal openingtherethrough for passage of a vertical support member, and at least someof said vertical edge members including first panel support means forsupporting a vertically disposed panel; horizontal edge members, atleast some of said horizontal edge members including second panelsupport means for supporting a vertically disposed panel, and at leastsome of said horizontal edge members including third panel support meansfor supporting a horizontally disposed panel; corner assembly meansadapted for attachment to said horizontal edge members and said verticalsupport members to permit assembly of a unit corner; panel membersengageable in said first, second, and thrid panel support means toprovide furniture and room units; ring members adapted for slidingattachment to said vertical support members; and screw means forsecuring said ring members at any desired point on said vertical supportmembers to support a horizontal member thereon.